AFTER a three week pre-season that was played in largely dry weather, wind and rain had the final say as Wellington 1st XI opened their 2026 WEPL Somerset Division campaign with a trip to Ilminster on Saturday, May 2, who had been pipped to the 2025 title on the last day of the season by Taunton Deane, writes David Derrick.

Of the thirty overs that were possible at Canal Way after skipper Jacob Hurry had won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first, Wellington had made the initial statement in the game as wickets for Toby Stirzaker and a debut victim at this level for George Davis sent Ilminster to 32-2.

From this point the hosts bedded themselves in with the bat as Rice with 56no and Vickery with 44no added 96 unbroken runs for the Ilminster third wicket up to when the match was abandoned as a draw.

Each of Luke Desave, Arron Campbell and Lakshan Edirisinghe, who is back for a second season with the Red and Black as their overseas player, bowled tidy spells for Wellington, but were unable to press for more success with the ball due to the call off because of the weather conditions.

Meanwhile Wellington, who were runners-up in the 40-overs a side Baker Cup last season, have been drawn at home in the first round of this season’s competition against WEPL Somerset Division side North Perrott on the evening of Monday, June 1.

The Red & Blacks made it to their first cup final in the competition at the County Ground in 38 years last season, just to be pipped at the last by eventual winners Taunton Deane - a game where the run out of Lakshan Edrisinghe was a pivotal moment.

The competition got underway with preliminary round matches on Monday, May 4.